Water LIFE Mar 2005

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Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay Florida

Keeping Boaters and Fishermen Informed

March 2005

KIds Cup Update

Bigger Baits?

page 5

Page 7

THE MOTHER OF ALL BOAT SHOWS Page 16

Redfish Cup

Q-Series Pineland Weigh in

page 11

www.CHARLOTTEHARBORMAGAZINE.COM

REAL ESTATE TRENDS: WATERFRONT PROPERTY AS IS, $495,000 SOLD! Page 23

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March

2005

More Manatee Mumbo Jumbo March

2005

By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE editor As far as I’m concerned, all this ‘news’ about downlisting the manatee (see Name Game, page 23) is just more smoke and mirrors from the people who stirred up the mess in the first place. Using a new ‘rating system’ for determining the level of endangerment to manatees is a slap in the face to boaters.

Boaters brought science to the table and boaters were right. We now need to down list the manatee because there are plenty of them. And kids in schools need to know what the Manatee Club had to say was wrong or at least, misleading.

We should not be fooled into thinking the pressure from overzealous environmentalists is letting up now. Conversely, we should redouble our efforts and be wary of any liberal attempt to subvert the United States’ rule of law for someone else's ‘international’ rule.

In case you don’t remember, this whole manatee thing started ‘internationally’ in the late 1960s when the United Nations Caribbean Environmental Program took shape. Sanctuaries and refuges were conceived at that time as a way to control growth and limit access to

coastal areas. Less access, they reasoned, would mean less pollution.

That concept is all still on the internet, and it is linked from our own w e b site:www.charlotteharbormagazine. com. In that report the U.N. advocates: “By stimulating appreciation and pride on the species, it may be possible to induce the development of a conservation philosophy, and achieve the goal of resource preservation. By being a high-profile species, the manatee may function as a catalyst in bringing together interested governmental and nongovernmental agencies to elaborate comprehensive conservation plans.

Manatees may be instrumental as well in the establishment of sanctuaries and attainment of the overall goal of preservation of coastal ecosystems with all their associated species.”

After that, the Manatee Club was formed and the ‘spin’ began.

The fact of the matter is, we have plenty of manatees and they are not endangered. If we want to protect manatees we need to tag them, track them and mind them where they are. We need not influence their migrations with artificial-

With the water very clear this time of year, light color baits such as The Old Bay Side Opening Night and Pearl Silver colors will give the perfect contrast in clear surroundings. Small baitfish will begin to arrive on the flats this month. To best imitate the smaller baitfish try using the 4" Saltwater Shadlyn on a 1/16 or 1/8 jig head in these colors.

Flats with sand holes surrounded by thick grass will hold the most fish.

Old Bayside Baits available at Fishinʼ Franks & Laishley Marine

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The Charlotte Harbor Marine Research crew samples a net full of fish taken on the east side last month.

Hands on research with accurate documentation is the key to successful resource management.

ly heated water and we must quit saying there are two species of manatees when there is really only one.

Be it known, the Florida Manatee and the West Indian manatee are the same animal. There was great debate when the species was divided into two sub-species in the first place, and that was at the time of the UN’s first involvement. But the real problem is that of adopting international standards above our own democratic choices. This trend must be watched carefully.

Some judges are now looking abroad for guidance. It’s a liberal trend called trans-nationalism. In

the case of Knight vs Florida the judge said he found “useful court decisions” on the matter at hand in India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe.

Should we be taking our legal cues from Zimbabwe? Are we nuts?

Adopting the UN’s designation for the manatee is not a good idea.

The UN’s conventions and treaties are all produced by paid U.N. bureaucrats and powerful U.N. non–governmental organizations (NGO’s) with almost no democratic input.

The NGOs – mostly American – are predominantly far, far out on the cultural left. They specialize in producing non-binding

3

and apparently harmless documents, which they then work to convert into explosive and legally binding texts that undermine national sovereignty and deflate the democratic process.

Lets stay focused. School kids need to be told the manatee is more populous than they were taught. We should change the animal’s designation, but do so under the current Endangered Species Act and downlist it to ‘a species of special concern.’ With a stable population of over 3,000 animals, the manatee by any standards, can no longer be considered endangered.

Pear & Silver (left) and Opening Night

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Outstanding Balance Report: Part III Latest Developments

Water LIFE Commentary

By Michael Heller In Part 1 we laid out the background: A professional fishing team (who are also friends of ours and who write for this paper), the Kids Cup Tournament (our 100-percent benefit fund raiser for the 7th graders at Port Charlotte, Murdock, Punta Gorda and Englewood middle schools) and this publication all got stiffed - to the tune of $6,000 by a local condominium project. After repeated unsuccessful attempts at collection we began to report the story here.

In Part 2 we went to the state’s Corporation Commission website and researched the companies involved and the people behind them. We figured somewhere amid those intertwined names there was a person responsible for our bill. The story hit the street and our phone began to ring.

The first call came from Dean DeGross president of Quality Homes in Port Charlotte. Dean told us Tom Smith was the man who owes us the money. We called Tom and he told us it was Dean DeGross who should be writing us a check.

Tom worked for an independent management company hired by the condo project, Dean was overseeing the project’s construction spending for an offshore group. Dean suggested we meet at his office and that he would explain the intricacies of the situation. “I’ll see if I can get Tom Smith to come,” Dean said.

As luck would have it, Tom had to cancel in the last minute, which did not make things look good for Tom since he was not there to fend off a bashing.

Dean said that two of the other people we reported on (Ron Osky and his wife Carol Gross) were ‘old people’ and that they had sold the corporate name years ago. “They were not involved in your deal at all,” Dean said and he mentioned that we might expect a letter from Osky’s lawyer, Cort Frohlich.

Cort, as it happens, was a Kids Cup sponsor and help to draft the liability release for the event. We had lunch together, he’s a good guy. I wondered how Cort would look at it when he found out the kids got stiffed.

We went to see Mr. Osky and told him that based on what Dean had said it appeared we were wrong and we apologized for including his name under the last story’s “Deadbeat” headline. All was forgiven. Then, the next day, I got a call from Punta Gorda’s outspoken city councilman Tom Poole. “I’d like to meet with you and tell you about Ron Osky,” Pool said, and that afternoon we had coffee with Tom at IHOP .

Poole apparently had his own axe to grind. Osky, Poole said, was the fellow who owned the Punta Gorda Mall. After the hurricanes, Osky was left with a vacant piece of land in the middle of the downtown. Poole told me Osky had ‘not performed’ on a contract he had made with the city and that his past record of business dealings elsewhere could easily be considered to be of questionable integrity. Poole suggested I might have apologized too soon.

At the earlier meeting with Dean DeGross, Murray Baker – another name we brought up last month – was present. At that time, Murray noted that the defunct management company, Dream Resorts, was

HEADED OUT?

Name _______________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________ City _______________________________ State ____________ Zip ____________________

made up of shareholders and most were still around. Murray straddled the fence speaking well of both Tom Smith and Dean DeGross.

“I’m a 10-percent shareholder I’ll pay you my 10-percent,” Murray said, adding that at least two of the remaining three partners would also agree to pay their share as well.

‘Get your checkbook,’ was my reply.

Murray didn’t have his checkbook with him that day so I was again suspect, but in a couple of days we did get a check in the mail from Baker and then another one from partner Marc BeShears. We deposited them and they cleared. So far so good.

We met partner Tom Smith at Bob Evans restaurant. Tom brought his son to take notes of our meeting. Tom told us how the whole condo project was his concept and how he had been ousted in a boardroom coup lead by Dean DeGross. “But that’s not your problem,” Tom said, and he wrote us a check (post dated) for his percentage. Tom looked like a good guy too ...until we got a call from Jamie in Georgia who said he worked for Tom at Dream Resorts and he too had been maligned in a business transaction. “If his check doesn’t clear, let me know,” Jamie said. “I’ve got records.”

Someone had apparently faxed Jamie our report in Georgia. Did this story did get around?

Now another month has passed. We have a little money in the bank, one post dated check, two more checks due, and some new leads. I suppose an optimist would consider this a fortuitous development. Perhaps all these guys aren’t so bad after all.

Like they say, when all is said and done -

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Contributing Editors:

Fishing / Environment: Capt. Ron Blago Charlotte Harbor: Capt. Robert Moore Gasparilla: Capt. Chuck Eichner Port Charlotte: Fishinʼ Frank Offshore: Capt. Steve Skevington Technical Advisor: Mike Panetti Sailing Advisor: Bill Dixon Lemon Bay: Don Cessna Kayaks: David Allen Local: Capt. Andrew Medina

on the COVER:

Redfish Nation Q-Series at Pineland

on our WEBSITE:

WWW.charlotteharbormagazine.com

Tide Graphs: For Punta Gorda, Shell Point, El Jobean, Pine Island, Matlacha, Redfish Pass, and Lemon Bay. Weather: Links to all of our favorite weather and radar web-sites.

Back editions: Pages of previous editions

Artificial Reefs: Lat. and Long. for 24 local artificial reefs

Manatee Myths: Read the original plan to create sanctuaries and refuges, as spelled out by the United Nations in 1984 Links to Realtors: Connect with our realestate advertisers

March

2005

By Capt. Chuck Ei chner Water LIFE Inshore Editor My dog Gunner always makes a good companion. She never complains, gets excited like me when a fish is splashing in the water and doesn’t care how the boat is positioned.

On this day there was a high incoming tide. It was a bright sunny day on Charlotte Harbor and the water was calling us.

We were going to fish new water and cover it fast with spoons, but just to be sure, I dumped 4-dozen shrimp in the livewell which pretty much guarantees a fish dinner around here.

When you push the throttle down and put the boat up on step there is a sense of freedom that can only be found on the water. It’s still a great life here on the harbor.

Without other anglers aboard I didn’t need to worry about scaring them, so I pushed my 18’ Maverick to 58 mph on the speedometer and high tailed it southbound towards Matlacha.

Pulling into a fishy looking basin I quietly dropped the trolling motor and positioned the boat on a shoreline that took advantage of the southeast breeze. I just love to drift fish and cast with no noise of any kind.

With no distractions, I rhythmically cast the shoreline; long

Silent

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Partner

casts with thin braided line and a 3/8 oz. gold spoon. Ten minutes into the game I had a bang on the lure, but no connection. The tide was super high and my casts became more accurate with time, making good shots under overhanging mangrove branches.

Then, wham! Fish on!

A redfish slammed the spoon and the fight was on with a scrappy 19-incher. Releasing this fish, I just marveled at my luck. A never before fished shoreline in a new area and not a boat in sight. Five casts later and a second identical red came aboard. Nothing like a couple of quick fish to make a fella’ feel confident.

The wind continued to push the boat down a long stretch of mangroves that went without a strike.

Occasional bumps on the trolling motor helped me stay at the right distance to the shore. Stealth is very important in any shallow water estuary and I always try to

Rigginʼ Right

fromFishinʼFrank

Overlap the two parallel lines by 12 inches.

Take 5 wraps on one side and pull the end back through between the two strands.

keep trolling motor use at a minimum. I also try to position so that wave slap on the hull is nonexistent.

Casting into a slot between two islands I had small reds follow the lure to the boat. With the sun high and the water clear I was just fascinated watching these fish trying to decide whether my spoon should really be dinner.

A horseshoe crab went by and a couple of stingrays gracefully swam in wide circular pattern on an adjacent flat, a good sign indeed. Repeated casts and no eaters so I decided to drift through the cut that I just cast. Looking into the water I saw mullet scurrying about ... or was that a redfish that went by? I mumbled to myself. Gunner with her paws dangling off the front deck seemed equally interested as she looked into the shallows.

Then, it dawned on me- I was drifting over a school of reds, perhaps 50 of

Tieing the Blood Knot

Repeat on the other side pulling the other end through the strands in the opposite direction.

them. Let me tell ya, it’s pretty rare for a redfish to let you get close let alone drift over top. I wondered why this happened to me this day. No one to share this marvelous experience with, and who would believe it? I drifted for 3 minutes and I had reds under the boat the whole time, scurrying around the boat seeming to not want to separate from the pack.

Eventually I drifted onto a shoal and they reassembled with no interest in hitting my spoon.

I decide to pick mangroves that were shaped and geographically positioned like the one that was so productive in the first hour of fishing. Largemouth bass fisherman call this ‘pattern fishing’ with the hopes that similar types of spots will hold fish even though they’re in different areas. Two hours of casting without a bite proved that I didn’t have much of a pattern going. Cast after cast reminded me that my wrists were not ‘conditioned’ or should I say I was out of shape for the job of hours of casting. To relieve the aching wrist, I decided to rig a nice handpick shrimp Texas style on a 3/0 offset mustad hook with a small spitshot immediately above the knot.

Choosing an isolated island closest to the outer sandbar I again drifted and slow cast the shrimp to the island branches. Simple fishing, just like a plastic worm- dragdrop-drag-drop. The key is to lower your rod on the drop so the shrimp falls to the bottom on a slack line. Twenty minutes of

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this and I was surprised a trout, blowfish or something hadn’t bit and then it happened.

A fair cast against a mangrove was made and I let the shrimp settle, lifting my rod high to move the shrimp caused it to raise to the surface. In the bright sun the shrimp flicked just a bit as I dropped the rod to allow it to fall into the depths and a huge red fish rose to the surface and slurped it in. For just a split second, I thought I was seeing things. Was my imagination playing tricks on me? The line moved off towards the mangroves and I slammed the Nope, I wasn’t hook home. dreaming and I was clearly undergunned.

This red was a monster ripping off drag as I lay a huge bend in my rod to try to break his stride. With only 8-pound monofilament on this rod, I figured that it would be god’s gift to land this brute.

Many times he had 30 yards of line out with drag running straight into the bushes. But luck was on my side this day. A 34-inch fish that was as big around as my thigh – perhaps 13-14 pounds somehow made it boatside and was then released to swim away. Alone in the pristine backcountry of Charlotte Harbor, my dog and this fish made for a memory that will last a lifetime.

Capt. Chuck Eichner is a local charter captain. For information or to book a guided fishing trip call 941-505-0003 or go to: www.back country -charters.com

One of the best knots for splicing two monofilament lines of similar diameters

Wet the area with ʻspitʼ to make it slide easier and pull the two tag ends slowly to gather the knot.

5

Once gathered neatly , pull the standing ends to tighten the knot, then trim the tag ends.

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Water LIFE

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March

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Send or e-mail (waterlife@comcast.net) a photo of your recent catch or a newsworthy fish photo. Photos selected for publication will receive a $25 gift certificate to Laishley Marine or Fishinʼ Franks. Photos will not be returned and may not have been previously published elsewhere. Remember to include caption information and a phone number.

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Bigger Bait, Bigger Fish? ... Not Always!

March

2005

By Capt. Robert Moore Water LIFE Staff The theory of bigger bait, bigger fish started for me when I was 10 years old. I was fishing with my grandfather for largemouth bass in a chain of lakes outside of Ocala. We had a five-gallon bucket full of freshwater wild shiners. Every cast produced a bass ranging from 2-pounds to 5pounds. I remember, as if he said it yesterday, “the bigger your bait, the bigger the fish you will catch.”

After that I would spend several minutes in between catches searching for the largest shiner.

I honestly can not tell you with absolute certainty whether or not the bass got any bigger after that, but my imagination remembers it that way.

As I got older and started my transformation over to the world of saltwater fishing I took that theory with me and applied it to my pursuit of snook, redfish and trout. I was very loyal to that theory, searching for hours upon hours for the right size bait that I considered to be the minimum acceptable proportion to catch nice fish. And when I started fishing with artificial baits I can remember always opting for larger baits. If you stop and think about it, in general terms, it doesn’t just stop with fishing.

Society as a whole commonly uses the analogy that bigger is better.

After 20 years fishing saltwater, 10 years of that as a guide and four years chasing Redfish tournaments across the country, I still in no way proclaim myself to be an expert at fishing. But when you spend 150 days a year on the water you experience many different things and learn from them. When it comes to fishing, the more you experience and retain the better you will become and one thing I have retained from my experiences is that bigger bait is not necessarily better.

Without a doubt, I agree when your target is only to catch very large fish then you will definitely want to use larger baits. But when you are targeting the average size fish of two-to-10-pounds, fish that are abundant on the inshore flats here, then in my opinion smaller is better.

When cleaning fish, I always inspect the contents of each and every fish’s stomach. I have always believed that you can learn a lot about a species by looking at what they eat. One common characteristic I found in snook, trout & especially redfish is that they all had small baits in their stomachs. Sure, there was the occasional

Water LIFE

fish that had a large finger mullet or shiner in there, but all the fish I cleaned had little crabs and baitfish in their stomachs. This is when I started to wonder about the bigger bait, bigger fish theory.

Over the years when I catch fish consistently in one area I study the bottom. I look and watch to see what was swimming and crawling around that kept these fish in that particular area. Usually it is small pinfish that I see. Once you focus in on them you start to see them by the thousands.

Sometimes it is small baitfish frye, but none the less – they were usually smaller than an inch. This is why I have come to the belief that bigger is not always better.

Several years ago while fishing with artificial baits and targeting slot redfish in tournaments I would experiment by down sizing my baits as much as possible.

Success was not far behind.

I remember a redfish tournament where I could not figure out what they wanted to eat. I started downsizing my baits until I got to an 1/8 oz gold spoon. Then like a light switch had turned on, it was literally one fish after another.

After several fish my partner switched over to the smaller bait and started catching too.

I also started to catch more snook than before with the smaller baits. The only problem I was having was trouble making cast of any distance with the smaller baits.

So I started downsizing my tackle as well as my size line. My distance increased and so did my catches. Then I started to put it together. All those years I was fishing with small live bait with little success, it wasn’t the bait, it was the fact that I could not cast it more than 30 feet.

My overall belief is that redfish, snook & trout will scour the shorelines and grass flats eating almost everything that crosses their path – usually, small baitfish and crabs. Yes, they will eat a large white bait or finger mullet if the opportunity arises, but these fish are primarily opportunists, eating what requires the least amount of energy to get. Present a small bait in front of them and they will eat it.

Try downsizing your bait, tackle and line size, make long casts and work your bait just off the bottom. You will learn from your own experiences.

You can reach Capt. Robert Moore for fishing information or to book a charter fishing trip at (941) 637-5710 or (941) 6282650 or contact him v ia e-mail at tarponman@comcast.net

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The 2005

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8

Kids Cup Water LIFE

S t aff R eport U P D A T E “We absolutely, definitely want to continue on with the Ki ds Cup. You can put that in the book!” those were the words from David Healy, point man for J.M. Productions, and TV producer for the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup on ESPN2.

“Obviously we can’t come back to Punta Gorda this year, there are no hotel rooms, but we will be back in 2006 and we want to continue on with the Ki ds Cup in the mean time.” Healy added that the Ki ds Cup action could still be part of their 2005 year end TV broadcast even though the main tournament will not be here.

“We’ll get the Kids Cup in the new Redfish Cup magazine, Redfish Nation

and we’ll put it all up on our website as well. This was just such a successful event last year that we want to continue to support it. The concept of teaching kids about conservation and good fishing practices is what we are all about.” I’d even like to find a way to have the Ki ds Cup winner come to the Redfish Cup finals in October,” Healy added.

Healy and tournament director Bob Sealy were in Pine Island for the latest round of their Q-Series tournament in late February. “Charlotte Harbor is the place, and kids are where it’s at,” Sealy said, noting that he is in the process of buying a condo here. “We are going to be a part of this community and support the Ki ds

On the Line Fishing with Capt. Ron Blago March

MAGAZINE

Red Tide & Weather Calling the Shots Lately

By Capt Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Executive Staff Red tide has been showing up in small patches from Tampa Bay to Fort Myers. Most of the large blooms are off shore around the 11 to 14 mile mark. The wind has been pushing them up and down the coast for the last two weeks and it will probably stay in our area until we get some rain.

Most of the offshore boats have had to travel between 20 and 30 miles out before they find clean water. Those who have gone that far have been rewarded with good catches of grouper and snapper.

Inshore fishing has been a little spotty. Most of the boat ramps and fishing piers have been pretty empty.

It's not so much the red tide that is keeping people off the water as the smell of the dead fish which most people find offensive.

But you can still find fish during redtide. If the fish are alive when you catch them, they are apparently ok to eat. Shellfish like clams and oysters, are another matter all together. Because they are filter feeders, they accumulate the red tide toxin without dying; so no eating shellfish until the State gives the all clear signal – that will probably be about a month after the red tide leaves.

If you have to fish, I suggest you get as far away from the passes as pos-

sible. That is where the red tide enters the bay. I have had good luck fishing the creeks that flow into Lemon Bay. Remember, freshwater kills red tide and the fish know that too, so some of these tidal creeks are holding pretty good fish.

Friends have reported good luck fishing Forked Creek, Gottfried Creek and Buck Creek. I have seen small pods of bait fish and pin fish in the deeper holes on the grass flats and have even seen sheepshead around the pilings at some of the local docks, but most of the fish seem to have lock jaw.

The only steady catching I've had is on some of the grass flats near Manasota Key bridge. Good numbers of trout are being caught on live shrimp under a poppingcork there.

I understand a local chapter of the Sierra Club is threatening to sue the FWC and Mote Marine because neither organization, after millions of dollars in research, has been able to find a link between red tide and human caused pollution. The Sierra Club must feel that Mote Marine is just not trying hard enough and maybe a judge is needed to set them straight. Don't you just love it when environmental groups sue each other. The lawyers will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Capt. Ron Blago can be reached for fishing information or to book a char-

Coming July 16 2005 Tommy Davis 2004 Kids Cup Winner

2005

This weekly updated map of Karenia Brevis or Red Tide concentrations around the state is available online at: http://www.floridamarine.org

March

2005

Water LIFE

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2005

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Dr. James Edmond with a 26 in. 7 lb redfish caught on a topwater plug two days after the tournament. Note how the fish is being held horizontally. This is the best position for the fish.

By Capt. Andrew Medi na Wat er LIFE Inshore Gui de Chasing a dream can be hard work. I’m talking about the dream of becoming a professional redfish angler and fishing on a national tour such as the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup. A tour that travels around Texas, Louisiana and Florida is good exposure for an angler and his sponsors. If you do well there is money to be made, but you have to qualify to fish in it.

To qualify for that tournament you have to fish a qualifying series called the Redfish Nation Q-Series. Unless you are directly involved you might not know how competitive it really is The week before the tournament for the Q-Series, Trent Cheatham (my partner) and I, were pre-fishing the east side of the harbor and every day we were on 12 to14pounds of fish. They were easy fish and they were eating, or so I thought.

The day of the tournament we left out of Pineland Marina headed north, it was cold and the wind was howling. When we rounded the bar at Bokeellia we ran right smack into a washing machine (the harbor was churned up) and straight-on winds put three-to five-foot seas in front of us. We took our beating and got across the harbor.

Usually we won’t change our plans – if we plan on fishing an area, and we pre-fished

that area, then that’s where we are going on tournament day.

When we finally made the 12 mile haul we were beat, the tide was negative plussome and we couldn’t even fish the school we found. So we plugged pot holes as we could until we got our redfish moving from one spot to another – it all came together for us at the end, but unfortunately, 31 other tournament teams did not weigh in any fish at all. That’s more than half the field – it was a tough day. The redfish many anglers had pre-fished the week before the tournament were gone. There is no accounting for the weather.

The following week, on Tuesday and Wednesday after the tournament, while fishing clients on paid charters, we hit tailing redfish in the same place, at the same time of day on top water and rubber bodies and they ate well. Where were they on Saturday when we needed them? Call it Murphy’s Law. Just have fun and be safe on the water.

Capt Andrew Medi na can be reached fo r fi s hi ng and charter i nfo at(9 4 1 )4 5 6 -1 5 4 0 o r Emai l at BentRo ds 4 U@ao l . co m

Ed No t es Capt Andrew Medina’s team is tied for 1st place in points in the series.

The top 15 teams in the Q series go on to

Q Series

March

2005

S t aff R eport One thing everyone agreed on when the Redfish Cup’s Q Series tournament came to Pine Island in late February was that the conditions in the morning were brutal.

Cold temperatures a low tide and a 20 knot wind out of the north made fishing miserable. Spots that were accessible earlier in the week when anglers prefished the area were now out of reach.

“We went over dry land,” Josh Smith said of their boat ride when his team returned for the weigh in.

There were some old timers in there - they thought we were coming in an air boat!” Other anglers told of spending hours aground and most said they had to get out and push at some point. And yet there were fish, and some nice fish at that.

The winning team of Artie Price and Carl Smith brought in 13.34 pounds of redfish. The biggest fish, caught by Levi Merritt tipped the scale at a healthy 7.45 pounds. In all 27 out of 58 boats weighed in fish.

Surprisingly, a number of the more productive locals – Chris Rush, J.R. Witt, Phil O’Bannon – only weighed-in one fish. “The fish just disappeared today,” Rush said.

“The red tide has been moving the fish around,” O’Bannon explained.

“I didn’t pre-fish at all,” Witt said.

There was no need for excuses. It was just tough.

“Paitence was the main thing,” Artie Price said. “We picked our spot and waited. I threw a pearl watermelon Berkley and I threw it weightless. The fish were just too

Water LIFE

P a g e 11

MAGAZINE

spooky to throw anything on a jig.” Price and his teammate headed south to find their winning fish, in the ‘relative protection’ of Pine Island Sound. For others, those who had scouted their fish in Charlotte Harbor conditions were far worse.

“We rounded the corner and it was a wall of water,” one angler said. Others who went to find fish at Pirate Harbor, said there were Winners at Pineland: Artie Price (right) and Carl Smith show off 13.34 pounds of redfish five foot waves inside the bar.

In general, anglers didn’t Place Capt.

Teammate St.Pete FtMyers Jax Total 1.

Capt. Andrew Medina Trent Cheatham 120 119 0 239 have as big a 1.

Jason Cofrin Dave Dickens 123 116 0 239 fish as they 3.

Mark Hollan Bret Gamrot 125 113 0 238 would have 4.

Tim Shadareck Jim Hobles 111 120 0 231 5.

Wayne Gatlin Robert Shamblin 114 110 0 224 liked (do we 6.

Capt. Kevin Merritt Capt. Steven Sorbara 118 105 0 223 ever?) but those Capt. Carl Smith Arthur Price 0 125 0 125 7.

Billy Harris Warren Girle 124 0 0 124 8. who were in the Capt Chuck Jenks Capt Tim White 0 124 0 124 9. points and in Wes Bedell Jeff Legutki 0 123 0 123 10.

11.

Scott Rush Wally Thomas 0 122 0 122 the money went 12.

Will Palmer John Olivero 122 0 0 122 home smiling 13.

Chuck Howard C.J Howard 121 0 0 121 Derrick Jacobsen Darryn McGowan 0 121 0 121 14. and that’s the 15.

Jim Taylor Stephen Andreu 119 0 0 119 important 17.

Tom Winrow Chris Wittman 0 118 0 118 Levi Merritt weighed in the biggest fish at 7.45 pounds Capt. Greg Watts Curtis Sanford 117 0 0 117 18. thing.

Current Standings

The crowd was small at the under-reconstruction Pineland Marina, but the Q series tournament was important since it is a qualifying event for the O Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup. Anglers who place well in this series become eligible to register for entry in the ESPN2 national event.

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Wayne Quick Ron Horton Tom Tamanini Capt Jay Withers Paul Weber Michael Immersek Geoffrey Page Sean McGarry Josh Smith Bob Welsh Rick Harrell Leland Symonds Danny Wade Scott Hughes Julius Rauch Jason Dudley Scott Kleiber Dan Matthew Brian Harris J.R. Witt Phil O'Bannon Chris Rush Steve Salter

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Page 12

BOAT REPAIR

Water LIFE

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Tarpon

MAGAZINE

More Tournaments for Boca Grande

S t aff R eport When it comes to break-away tackle, according to Cappy Joiner, leader of the Boca Grand Guides Association: “We’re not going to do anything different. I’ve been tying my lead on tight for years,” Joiner said. “The reason for break away tackle was to keep a light line tension. A big lead weight puts more pressure on the line and then it’s easier for the fish to spit the hook.” Joiner was speaking about the dilemma some tarpon fishermen will be facing at Boca Grande this year. Break away tackle – lead that comes off when the fish strikes – is banned.

“That’s why the jig fishermen lose so many fish. Last year out of 148 hook ups they landed only 40 fish, that’s a 30- percent success rate. In the same time we hooked 90 fish and landed 48 of them.

That’s a 50-percent success rate,” Joiner said. He, like all the traditional live bait fishermen at Boca Grande, believes jig fishing is not productive and that it snags rather than catches the fish. “Sixty four-percent of the fish hooked on jigs in the study done last year were hooked from the outside of the mouth in,” Joiner said.

The Boca Grande guides are planning a new tournament for May 23-24. It is still not clear if the guides are distancing themselves from the Boca Grand Chamber of Commerce’s Worlds Richest tarpon tournament in July or if the two events will coexist peacefully. Some guides may fish both events or there may be a boycott.

“In our tournament, all we are going to do is fish from 2 until 6 p.m. on the first day. If no fish are caught we’ll fish one hour overtime, that’s it. Same thing for the second day, 2 to 6 and one hour overtime if necessary.” Joiner said if no fish are caught at all, all the money will be given back.

“And we will be paying 92-percent of the entry fees collected back as the purse,” he said.

There is a 40 boat limit. “The field is

March

2005

just starting to form. Anyone is welcome, The entry fee is $250,” Joiner said. Phone him at 697-6052 for more information.

The Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce is launching its own new tournament twist this year as well.

According to chamber president Craig Lutz “We will fish July 6-7-8 in two separate tournaments. The traditional World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament is limited to 40 boats on July 6-7 and as a new twist this year, steel, monofilament and fluorocarbon leader will all be allowed. “We will fish from 3 to 8 pm to get hard falling evening tides on the new moon (July 6) We have a reduced entry fee of $3,500. (down from $5,500) With a full field, we pay $67,200 first place, $26,880 for 2nd and $17,920 third.” Lutz said. First and second place are determined by weight, third place goes to the angler with the most releases.

On July 7-8 the Chamber also has an all-release beach tournament starting at 6:30 a.m. with lines up at noon. They will provide a specific map showing the designated fishing area. In that event each team will have an observer aboard to count the releases. The beach tournament is all about the most releases. Entry fee for the new beach tournament is also $3500. The awards for both Chamber events will be part of the Silver King block party festival at Boca Grande July 8.

According to Lutz, it will be live bait only in the pass tournament, but anglers in the beach tournament may fish any single barb, single hook, artificial lures. “No jigging rigs will be allowed in either tournament,” Lutz said.

It is our hope that there is a decline in jig fishing. We’re hoping there will be some responsible legislation coming this year to address the jigging problem. Boca Grande is a fishing community,” Lutz said.

Any one wishing to enter either of the Chamber tournaments can call (941) 964-0568.

Mechanical Connection March

Water LIFE

2005

Water Pump gives up the ghost and reveals its flimsy ancestry

S t aff R eport This is an automotive story, but the relevance to all things mechanical is worth a look. This water pump is off a GM Gen VI marine big-block installed in a car. In a car, the pump is belt driven and water recirculates, in a marine application water comes from below the boat. A small leak, an annoying drip appeared one day and quickly got progressively worse. The culprit was not the usual place a water pump will leak from (around the impeller shaft) but from the rear cover of the pump itself. Water pumps are made with a removable back cover so the impeller (shown here) can be pressed onto the shaft during assembly. Then the pump is sealed up at the factory and should be watertight for 100,000 miles or more but in this instance at 10,000 miles, the gasket used between the pump body and the rear cover

was leaking. The motor was never overheated, and there was always coolant, not just water, in it. This part should not have failed. We took the back cover off and it was easy to see that the gasket had simply eroded away.

During the last few years, in several different applications, we have encountered a number of sub-standard gaskets for intake manifolds, valve covers and water necks. Some were off brand gaskets – no more than cheap cardboard – but one big name gasket wasn’t much better, weeping liquid through it like a sponge.

The lesson here is: for major parts, buy brand specific gaskets from the manufacturer. It’s cheap insurance and they usually fit better any way.

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Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

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2005

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2005

FISH ON! Offshore Report

Water LIFE

By Capt. S teve S kevi ngton Water LIFE Offshore Contributor

Wow, what a month February turned out to be. This month is not really popular for it's calm seas, but February 2005 was just that. Nearly every day this month turned out to be flat calm. Even as I am writing this, there's not so much as a ripple on the Gulf around us for as far as I can see.

As far as the fishing is concerned, red tide kind of put a damper on our normal ‘fishing plans’ for this time of year, but it didn't manage to put a damper on the ‘fishing.’ If there's anything we've learned around here over the last seven months, it’s to make lemonade when Mother Nature hands you lemons.

We’ve been running out passed the red stuff to 70-75 feet of water. Bagging up big yellowtail snapper, limits of mangrove snapper, hogfish, keeper sized scamp grouper, gag grouper, and even some red grouper. Today we released three big amberjack and some monster goliath grouper.

As far as March, there is really one thing on my mind; those big March ‘mangs.’ Mangrove snapper two to four pounds and some up to ten pounds will start to stack up on some of our area ledges and wrecks. My favorite way to fish these guys is to chum them to the surface and flat line them with light tackle. Ten to twelve pound test is a lot of fun on these fish.

MAGAZINE

Whatʼs Selling NOW Area Real Estate

Page 15

This is NOT an Ad

Factual Information compiled by Water LIFE from the Charlotte County Association of Realtors database.

Homes in the Edgewater area of Port Charlotte continue to sell quickly and very close to or above asking price. Many houses in the area are on canals with varying amounts of time to the Harbor. Sea walls here are the responsibility of the homeowners.

BEENEY - Before Charley remodeled in August this was a 3/2 pool home built in 1968 with 1287 sq ft. It has some of the easiest Harbor acces in Port Charlotte with 100' of seawall.In June 2004 (two months before the storm) it sold for $359,500. It sold again "as is" in January of 2005 for $475,000.

ROCK CREEK DRIVE - Complete with 800# boat lift, dock and seawall this home was built in 1983. It has 1850 sq ft, 3/2 and a heated pool and separate in ground spa. Harbor access but not for sailboats. It sold in 1999 for $161,900 and just this past January 2005 for $383,000.

SUNRISE AVE - Fifteen minutes to the Harbor with Gulf access this 3/2 home was built in 1973. It has no pool but a yard large enough to build one and 1,296 sq ft. It sold in March 2004 for $149,300 and nine months later in December of 2004 for $240,000.

A February pair of porgys or ʻjolt headsʼ

Fluorocarbon leader is almost a must, and whatever you’re using for bait, ‘hide your hook.’ Another fish to look forward to in March will be the spring run of Spanish macs. Trolling up and down the beach with small jigs and spoons is deadly on these fish. In fact, the only mistake an angler could make this month is to not go fishing at all.

See ya next month.

TROPICAL AVE - Newer home built in 2002 on 2/3 of an acre with 105' of waterfront and dock along the Pellam waterway. Not on sailboat water but an easy out to the Harbor. This house sold after only 3 days on the market for $500 over the asking price of $349,500. Prior to that it sold in May of the same year for $285,000.

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Observations at Miami Water LIFE

Page 16

S t aff R eport Better faster boats, carbon fiber kevlar hulls, high tech electronic engine controls, Chinese kayaks and lures, lots of color, thermal coatings, high-teck lubricants, flat screens, projected thermal, low light and Gen III night vision imagery, interphased electronics, cleaners and polishes of every denomination, bowthrusters and side-shifters. A flameless oven, Ullman impact seating and a shock absorbing deck. Women dressed to the nines with big stones, kids in t-shirts, men with beer, Cubans speaking a mile a

minute, and southerners talking with a slow drawl. Miami had a little of everything, and more.

In the world of outboards Suzuki and Tohatsu have their

four strokes. Mercury has it’s supercharger, Yamaha is in the middle and the ‘new’ E-Tec Evinrude appears to be the only manufacturer committed to high pressure high performance twostrokes.

There were more “off-brand’ outboards on display boats at the show than ever before, but the display booths at Tohatsu and

Suzuki were quiet compared to the activity at the big three.

Around the show, plasma screens were the show-and-tell tool of the year with image loops running everywhere you turned.

The smell of fresh fiberglass just out of the mold filled the air in some areas. To boat and accessory manufacturers, this was the mother of all boat shows.

2090 Matecumbe Key - #1801 Prestigious corner unit with west exposure - Unsurpassed view of Boca Grand Pass, Charlotte Harbor, boat basin & golf course The ultimate residence with luxury design features & maintenance-free living - Two carports with Units 38 & 39.

MLS# 458167 $775,000

McCleod Ave -Executive compound with 3.98 ac waterfront, gulf & lake access - nearly 900 ft. of water frontage backing up to Riverwood development - a whopping 173,466 sq. ft. of land - perfect for an estate home - priced to sell ! MLS# 446322 $3,000,000

March

MAGAZINE

The sexy looking Everglades 290 won the National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation of the Year award.

This $165,000 boat begs to be taken out in the nastiest of weather; with a full pilothouse that can run 52 mph and is sure to be seen on the SKA circuit this year. “We are already talking about air conditioning as an option,” one of the Everglades salesmen said.

Automotive technology con-

E. Darin Dr - Few left of this kind - oversized sailboat lot - fantastic long east water view - new large dock great access out by boat or car - upscale homes on quiet street. Room for a large home or very large (plans available) 2-story home. MLS# 456076 $725,000

95 N Marion Ct #241 - FANTASTIC BUY!.Pre-construction penthouse end unit . Floor plan boasts over 3,000 sq. ft., featuring two Owner's Suites, a 3rd BR/guest suite & 3 full baths. Expansive terrace for viewing spectacular Harbor sunset or sunrise from the owner's suite balcony . Seller motivated.

MLS#454102 $929,000

2005

High speed ʻdemo ridesʼ across the bay are a fun part of the Miami show

tinues to burr the line into boating with Ilmor’s 625 hp V-10 Viper boat motor designed for the offshore set. “Twenty of these are already in the field with over 200 trouble free hours on them,” the factory rep said. They are built under an exclusive license with Dodge by Teague Marine.

On the lower end, power surfboards and wakeboards continue to make more inroads in the surfer market. Surfango out of Shanghai China came to town with their new $1,800, 25 mph, motorized kayaks. Powered by a proprietary 4-stroke motor designed specifically for this application. The boat looks and feels like a real kayak! Retracting

PRESERVE ON PEACE HARBOR - Great opportunity to own a waterfront condo on the Peace River. Ea. owner will have option to purchase dock when built (approx. $30,000 ea.). 42-slip marina, wood cabinets, granite counters, custom tile & more. Gated private community to be completed Sept. '05.MLS#456326 $555.000

pistol grip controls steer from the left and power up on the right. A

March

Water LIFE

2005

second version is powered by a tiny 24 volt brushless electric motor giving the electro-yak a 7 mph top speed and 1.5 hours fullthrottle-endurance on a single typical automotive battery. Both boats will come in sit-in or siton configuration.

Chris Craft shows it’s classic heritage with the new wood trim retro-looking Speedster, powered by a 270 hp volvo inboard and

priced at $45,900.

If you wanted speed it was there for sale with ‘reliable’ 100

mph performance for under $150,000 from several manufac-

turers.

In the inboard realm Caterpillar’s C-32, 1825 hp electronically controlled, turbocharged, diesel was the bad-to the-bone choice for the superpower, super-yacht.

While the Miami Convention Center had over 4,000 vendors Across the bay, the Simply Sail exhibition at the Bayside Miami Marina was less spectacular. An array of boats, perhaps 100, sat in the water ready for inspection while 50 or so vendors filled a strategically placed tent that attendees were routed through.

Overall, the powerboat crowd appeared more ‘well healed’ while

Page 17

MAGAZINE

the sailors were best described as kicked back and comfortable.

Leisure Sail had their not new but now elegantly refined technology on display: roller furling boom equipment that can make the cruising life easier and only

set you back 10 large in the process (without the required new furling-specific sails).

Twin rudders set the Southerly 110 apart from the rest of the fleet and made several passers by ask what happens when you go straight?

The Etchells, a 30-foot onedesign racing sailboat was built to compete against the Soling

boats in Olympic competition.

Built on a fractional rig design (the fore-stay only extends 7/8 of the way up the mast) this boat’s rigging is almost infinitely adjustable. A favorite with the Miami based club sailors the Etchells has not gained popularity in Charlotte Harbor, perhaps due to her 6-foot keel but she was an attention getter at Miami.

The boat sails with a three or four person crew and a 678-pound weight limit for racing.

In the world of luxury yachts the Indian Creek area along Miami Beach’s Collins Avenue floated more hardware than ever before stretching five city blocks

with yachts tied up three deep.

“This is the most boats at this boat show I have ever seen,” one salesman commented and we had to agree.

In the end, the National Marine Manufacturers Association reported a year-overyear increase in attendance and sales at the 2005 Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail. Attendance at the show, which ran Feb. 17-21, was 145,355 compared to 138,034 last year. This represents a 5 percent year-over-year increase and a 3 percent increase from the average attendance figures for the previous three years.Dealers in both parts of the show reported strong sales and agreed the 2005 Miami Boat Show was another success.

3656 PEACE RIVER DRIVE - Spectacular sunsets from the lanai and free-form pool 4 BR and 3 BA with an office/den for your large family; expansive glass across rear to afford magnificent water views along with a dock, 10K lift and deep water anchorage for your large boat. $879,000

8663 SW SUNNYBREEZE ROAD – Custom designed 2/2 home located on 17 waterfront acres on Thornton Creek with access to the Peace River. Unique decor accented by the fabulous setting of wrap around porches and atriums make this a spectacular estate home. $975,000

4900 RIVERSIDE DRIVE - Beautifully renovated and expanded 2-story historic home, nearly 2 acres on the Peace River with delightful caretaker cottage or motherin-law home. Family room and master suite overlook the River, 7 original fireplaces, lots of decking for entertaining and enjoying the water views. $1,950,000

413 VALLETTA Court – 3/2/2 sailboat home on a quiet cul-de-sac with an extra wide canal view in Burnt Store Isles. With tile throughout and almost all new appliances, roof, and kitchen countertop, this home is like new and ready to move in! $675,000

25188 MARION AVENUE, UNIT 23 – The Peace River laps at your back door in this Emerald Point villa.

Spectacular view of the harbor from this 2/2 unit with large rooms, your own pool and lots of open decks for enjoying the outdoors.

Deeded dock included with this unit. $699,000

8416 RIVERSIDE DRIVE – 2 BR creekfront home, over 200ʼ of seawall, easy access to Shell Creek.

Oversized garage, workshop that could accommodate 3 or 4 vehicles.

Possible mother-in-law set-up for bonus room in rear of garage. Room for a pool or RV. $298,000

Page 18

Water LIFE

Harborʼs Biggest Race MAGAZINE

March

2005

S t aff R eport Lots of planning goes into a big event For the past several years this publication has made photographs available of past events which the Conquistador Cup Race committee has used for brochures and tshirts. In time it has become a tradition that in addition to the winning boat receiving the coveted conquistador’s helmet their boat’s picture is used for the following year’s T-shirts.

This years Conquistador Cup T shirts will feature the image of Breaking Wind, one of the new multi-hull class boats that started last but finished first in 2004.

Race committee rules dictate that after the completion of sailing on the first day of the “Cup” the boats starting order for the second day is inverted. Boats that finish first on day one, starts last on day two. It is a design which, at least theoretically, This image of ʻBreaking Windʼ will be on this gets all the boats to the finish line at years Conquistador Cup T-shirts roughly the same time. Usually it works.

For spectators, this race presents better than average options. Since the race is held at the top of Charlotte Harbor, in the Peace River below the US 41 bridge, race watchers gather either on the bridge itself or at one of the waterfront restaurants at Fishermen’s Village for a view of the course. Since the final mark is usually near the bridge, boats pass in front of the village twice enroute to the finish line. The race is March 5-6.

March Sailing Calendar

March 5-6 Conquistador Cup March 12 Small Boat Racing

Boat Buying Tips

March 13 Spring Series #4 March 20 Spring Series #5

Whether you are shopping for a new or pre-owned boat, it is a good idea to shop new first at one or two of the hundreds of boat shows across the country.

Boat shows offer an excellent opportunity to see what is out there with regard to boats and boating equipment.

When you are ready to buy, find a dealer near you. Interview a few dealers. The dealer who wins your business should be the one who goes out of his or her way to make you feel comfortable with your boat and the entire buying process.You are creating a long term relationship with this dealership. Find someone you feel comfortable with and can trust.

Let me help choose the right boat for you

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March

2005

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Page 19

8003 HILLMAN AVE. PUNTA GORDA Two charming vintage cottages.

Main house plus guest house. Ideal as mother-in-law setup. Boat ramp in walking distance. Access: Shell Creek & Peace River. Connects with Gulf of Mexico $159,900 BOTH TOGETHER!

4282 LIBRARY ST. - Beautiful Saltwaterfront pool home. This home offers cathedral ceilings, a gorgeous open floor plan and barrel tile roof.Tastefully decorated . Seawall, Dock, 6,000 lb. boat lift. New pool cage scheduled for 3/15 New Central heat and air.

Spectacular view down the canal overlooking wooded area. $449,000 MLS#445100

4261 GARDNER DR - Best buy on excellent saltwater front lot , oversized with Scenic waterview, very close access to Charlotte Harbor, only one bridge out. Has seawall, completely cleared. City water & sewer and side walks. $260,000 mls # 452883

Water LIFE

Page 20

By Betty S taugl er Special to Water LIFE from Sea Grant Have you ever wondered what those foamy streaks of scum on the Harbor are? Have you ever wondered why the bubbles seem to align themselves in streaks and not just cover the surface on windy days?

Those streaks or scum lines are due to a rather complex water movement phenomenon called Langmuir Circulation. When a specific blend of wind speed and wave movement occurs, we experience Langmuir Circulation.

Langmuir Circulation was discovered back in 1938 by scientist Irving Langmuir during a cross-Atlantic voyage. Langmuir noticed the sargassum (floating seaweed) forming linear patterns on the waters surface during his journey. Upon returning home, Langmuir conducted experiments in Lake George, New York, in order to explain the sargassum formations.

What Langmuir discovered was that as wind blows across the surface of the water, convection cells begin to take shape as the shearing forces of the wind push the surface water. The surface water is pushed in a perpendicular fashion to create a circulation pattern below the water. These cells begin to rotate as ‘tubes’ of water for the length of the bay waters just below the surface and pointed in the direction of the wind. The tubes rotate in opposite directions to the concurrent tube next to it.

Simply put, when wind pushes a unit of water from point A to point B, more water rushes to fill point A. This causes an upwelling to occur. At point B, where there is more water than before, a downwelling occurs. This upwelling and downwelling effect, which happen over and over again, creates the spiraling tubes mentioned above.

While we can only see the surface, the evidence of this phenomena occurring lies in the two concurrent, counter-circulating

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MAGAZINE

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2005

tubes that clear the surface on the upwelling and concentrate floating bubbles on the down-welling. Because the two adjoining cells or tubes are rotating in opposite directions, what we see is the accumulation of bubbles, foam, and debris on the waters surface.

Next time you’re out on the water and you see the telltale scum line, look around for another. The distance between the two scum line streaks is equal to two tubes. If you position your boat on top of a scum line, the water beneath you will be moving down and downwind. As your boat drifts between two scum lines, the water beneath you will be moving up and downwind.

Langmuir Circulation can be observed on any body of water including oceans, seas, lakes, estuaries, and rivers. This phe-

nomenon can form very quickly and last from several minutes to several hours. So, have you seen those foamy streaks on the water lately?

Betty Staugler can be reached for marine ex tension information at (941) 764-4346

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March

2005

Water LIFE

Places You Can Fish .... with red tide around.

By Fi shi n’ Frank Water LIFE Grand Advisor An interesting thought occurred to me.

Over the last 30 years or so their have only been three or at the most four outbreaks of red tide in the upper part of Charlotte Harbor. It was like we had a get-out-of-red-tide-free card.

The Peace and Myakka rivers kept red tide out of the harbor simply because red tide can not live in fresh water, but now that we have another phosphate mine drawing water out of the river and two or three municipalities drawing their water and farms drawing water and all of us in general drawing water – one way or another – from the river, in dry seasons there may no longer be enough fresh water in the river to keep us (and the fish) safe from strong red tide outbreaks in the harbor. This has now happened two out of the last four years. It would be easy to only blame the phosphate mine, but I believe they were was just the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

So what kind of fishing can you do when the red tide is ravaging the gulf water?

Here are a few ideas: Canal fishing is at its peak. People are traveling from Tampa to Fort Myers to fish and escape red tides there. The upper harbor and the canal systems show why this is one of the best places in the world to fish. Lady fish are easily caught with a shrimp under a bobber in the Ackerman canal, trout are a blast in Alligator Creek, and by using jigs in Alligator Creek you get more of the hard ‘smack’ of the trout hit. Bright color jigs are working best.

Three Islands, north of Pirate Harbor and just inside the sand bar is a very exciting place for trout fishing right now with fish five and six pounds being caught on a regular basis.

The Smithwick Devils Horse, is the best lure for non-lure anglers. Slowly reel it in, stop every once in a while - start again, and if you jerk it the trout will come. Three feet of water is best.

Snookin' at the auditorium parking lot next to the US 41 bridges at night with an outgoing tide is also hot. Use a 15 Bomber Classic Snook or the secret Mirror Lure TT_1_ I'll tell you that here, call me for the whole number. Cast it out from the seawall not from the corner, but back 15 feet so when you retrieve your lure it passes by the corner of the seawall. Retrieve the bomber slow and steady, no jigging or snapping. The mirror lure should be retrieved with slow pulls with stops between pulls, the water is still in the 60's and snook need more time to react.

The Shell Creek dam is snook heaven right now. Slow

MAGAZINE

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The East Spring Lake canal on incoming tide will get you trout. Use a shrimp about four feet under a popping cork, cast out to the middle of the canal and let the tide take it in.

Sheepshead and snapper have been hitting on the south side of the bridge at West Spring Lake. Pieces of shrimp on gold hooks are your best bet. El Jobean is king at night for snook fishing but the first bridge on Midway has its own share of snook and little or no people fishing it.

One of the best but almost forgotten snook holes in the county is at the first canal off U.S.41 on Forest Nelson. The left, or south side is salt water and the pipes that overflow fresh water from the other side hold many snook over the legal limit. F-8 Yo-zuris or a 16axs104 Bomber are good choices for lure guys.Fresh water shiners are the best bet for the more relaxed angler.

These are just a handful of places you can fish.

When the coast is making you cough, come back to the brown water of the upper harbor. The fishing is just fine.

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Page 22

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March

MAGAZINE

2005

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March

2005

Water LIFE

From Blame Game to Name Game the manatee is in the spotlight again Snooty, the Parker Aquariumʼs Cash-Cow has been in captivity over 30 years

By Capt Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Guide A lot has happened since the manatee was placed on the endangered species list in 1973. Back then the widely held belief was that there were less then 1000 manatees in Florida and they were worth protecting. There was no real science or data to back up that assumption, but back then Federal and State biologists, boaters and environmentalists were all on the same side trying to help out the poor manatee.

In the 80's a new player entered the game, the Save the Manatee Club and things soon began to go south as far as cooperation was concerned.

The basic premise of the SMC's creed was that the manatee was on the road to extinction and the main culprits were the very boaters who helped start the manatee protection movement in the first place. The SMC's assumptions were also not based on science or data, but it did strike a responsive cord with several biocrats (biological bureaucrats) from the old Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Several of those biocrats are still currently working for the SMC. The 90's was supposed to be the decade where science was going to confirm the desperate plight of the manatee.

The first thing they did was increase the use of aerial surveys to determine the population of manatees in Florida.

In 1991 they counted a population of 1478. The SMC used that data to support their conclusion that the manatee had not recovered much from 1973 and that more restrictions on boaters were necessary to protect the manatee.

The SMC skillfully manipulated the mainstream media to hammer home the fact that manatee deaths were increasing each year and now more restrictions on boaters and waterfront growth limits were required.

Facts can be such stubborn things, and by 1999 the aerial surveys (now required by law) found 2,360 manatees in Florida.

Even some of the biocrats, now working for the new FWC began to have second thoughts about the plight of the manatee.

The SMC took this as treachery and developed a new strategy. The SMC sued the Federal and State biocrats in 2000 saying they were not doing enough to protect the manatee. After all, why waste money on science when all you have to do is get a judge to determine what a scientific fact means. That was the reasoning Galileo used when

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MAGAZINE

they threatened to burn him at the stake if he didn't admit that the sun revolved around the earth. This was pretty much the low point for cooperation with all parties concerned; and it didn't help when in 2001 the aerial surveys found 3300 manatees in Florida.

Out of the fog of confusion came the Florida C o a s t a l C onservat i on Association (CCA) which filled a request with the FWC to review the status of the manatee. They figured that since the proven population of manatees in Florida had increased 123-percent in 10 years, maybe the manatee wasn’t so endangered anymore.

Back in 1999 the FWC had updated their imperiled listing criteria to try and put science back into the classification process. At that time, all parties agreed to three listing criteria: endangered, threatened and Species of Special Concern. When faced with the real possibility of the manatee being delisted, the SMC was in a panic.

They said the aerial surveys were not accurate and the listing criteria was flawed. They said that people would be confused if the manatee went from endangered to threatened status.

Some other people said that the real problem was it hurt the fund raising efforts of the SMC; after all, a threatened manatee just doesn't have the same fund-raising zing as an endangered manatee.

Now it appears a compromise is in the works. Along comes the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) one of those UN sanctioned environmental groups. The IUCN classifies imperiled species in three categories; but their's are different from the FWC categories: Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable and Slightly Endangered.

So here is one possible plan: Adopt the IUCN categories and down-list the manatee from the top ICUN category of Critically Endangered to Endangered. That way the manatee gets delisted and the SMC can still call the manatee endangered.

Unfortunately there is a down side to the plan. The FWC staff is against it. After all, they just changed their categories in1999 and nobody complained then; and the term "Endangered" is used all through the Florida statutes so if you change the definition of the word, you probably have to change the laws.

And then there are those dammed facts again. It seems that the IUCN doesn't even recognize the Florida manatee as a sub species of Trichechus manatus. They recognize an American Manatee, a Caribbean Manatee, a North American Manatee and the West Indian Manatee; but no Florida Manatee. One other little problem has popped up as well. It seems that the IUCN has already assessed the manatee and in 1996 categorised it only as Vulnerable, the lowest ranking they have.

So now all the SMC has to do is convince all parties concerned that having more manatees in Florida means that they are ever closer to extinction and that approach just might work for them, after all, that type of logic has got us to where we are today.

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Page 24

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

SAILBOAT CANAL POOL HOME off Collingswood 3/2/2, built1990, with 1,792 sq ft. What a lovely land-

scaped home. You'll love everything about this home. New diamondbrite pool, cage to be installed, thanks to Charley. New roof and garage door in place. Newer 3 1/2 ton A/C. Sliders from all rooms on back of home to lanai and pool. Four walk-n closets, living and family/rooms, dining and breakfast nook, breakfast ba, beautiful dock to fish from and so much more. MLS 450993 $449,900 Call Ellen today.

North Port Beauty on two Oversized Lots. 3/2/2, 2001 construction, Just off Toledo Blade inside the Sarasota line, but 10min. to Town Center Mall and shopping. Home features Great Room, dining, kitchen with nook and breakfast bar, wooden cabinets, tile in kitchen and bath areas, double entry doors. French doors to lanai area. Oversized Lanai and Patio area at pool with fountain. Pool just finished 2004. Nice country feeling away from noise. No deed restriction, parking for boat, RV, Motorhome. MLS# 451101 Price $310,000. Call Ellen Today!

Beautifully landscaped pool home, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2 car attached garage. This home is on an oversized corner lot and you can have the lot behind the home for $29,900 (MLS #459652). Home features a green house full of orchids and other exotic plants. Seller will deal to leave them or will sell them. Huge lanai overlooking pool built in 1999 with pavers. What a view to enjoy nature!

This one will not last long. MLS #459623 $249,900.

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March

2005

Exquisite 5 bedroom, 3 bath pool home with 3213 sq. ft, 588 sq. ft.

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March

Water LIFE

2005

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MAGAZINE

Incredible Hemingway Style House

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Absolutely immaculate stilt home offers a spectacular water view from the nautical porch area. A 3 bedroom home with beautiful hardwood floors, new kitchen, gorgeous master bedroom, metal roof, beautiful lighting and over-sized garage area. This home has been completely remodeled inside and out and looks like it was just built! $767,000 mls# 459300

Sailboat waterfront overlooking large basin and Charlotte Harbor.

Modern Key West style home in Pirate Harbor with 3557sq. ft. of living space and panoramic views of the waterfront from all sides. Boat house with lift and dock, ramp area & swimming pool. Great Room floorplan with 18-foot ceiling, huge master bedroom, oversized 2 car garage and 3rd story widowʼs watch. Only minutes to Gulf waters from this incredible location! 24201 Captain Kidd Blvd, Pirate Harbor. Priced at $990,000

Adjacent lot with this home available, mls # 456908 $699,000 Approximately 333 feet of waterfront combined

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Water LIFE

Overnight Kayak Trip in the Everglades

By Dave Al l en Water LIFE Kayak Contributor We had planned this trip for several weeks at Port Charlotte Kayakers club meetings, over dinners, and by telephone conversations back and forth. The plan, as it developed, was to take an overnight paddle from Everglades City to Rabbit Key, a distance of about 12 or 13 miles to the southwest. We would leave Port Charlotte at 6 a.m., Saturday morning, February 19, camp out on Saturday night and return Sunday morning. A group of seven decided to go: Hal Waller, Jim McKenzie, Klaus Mehlhorn, David Rog, Loraine Helber, Ron Rosiere, and myself.

For those who haven’t paddled or camped in the Everglades, the process of getting a camping permit is time consuming and involved. First, someone has to drive to the park service in Everglades City and get the permit 24 hours before the intended trip. Hal Waller generously volunteered for this job. Then, permits are issued on a first come, first served basis, so you need to have some alternate camping locations selected in case your first choice is taken by another party. As it turned out, our first three choices were taken, but we lucked out and got a permit for Tiger Key. It was still an hour before sunrise when we loaded up the cars and trailers and head-

ed south on Interstate 75. Everglades City was a two and a half hour drive from Port Charlotte. We planned to be in the water by 9 a.m. It was a perfect day for a paddle: temperature about 50 degrees with a light breeze from the southeast, and lots of sunshine. No rain was in the forecast.

At 9:30 a.m., the tide was dead low at the ranger station, so we hauled the kayaks and gear across the muddy beach to the shallow water beyond. We headed southwest, across Chokoloskee Bay toward the entrance to Indian Key Pass. Flashinggreen ‘23’ marks the pass entrance: a pair of ospreys had built a nest on top of the marker and didn’t want us to get too close.

There was a little current running against us, but we made pretty good time.

There were quite a few fishing boats, large and small, most heading west to the Gulf. One of the fishermen back at the ramp had told me that the fishing had been pretty good the last week or so.

Sightseeing boats passed us regularly, loaded with holiday visitors who wanted to see the Everglades. Two men paddling a heavily loaded canoe were paddling hard against the current as we passed. They were headed to Lulu Key for several days of camping and fishing.

Shortly before noon, we were almost to the Gulf end of Indian Key Pass, and made the turn northwest toward Tiger Key.

MAGAZINE

Even though the wind was now stronger, as we turned toward Tiger, the mangrove islands blocked some of the wind, and we slipped through the channels to the south tip of Tiger Key. The campsite was midway down the key on the Gulf side.

Tiger Key turned out to be a beautiful little island with wide, flat shell beaches ideal for setting up a camp. There are no toilet facilities on Tiger Key, but as we found out, there are also no raccoons, rats, or mosquito’s. We did need a squirt of ‘Off’ to discourage some sand flies.

It felt good to get out of the kayaks and stretch after the 2 .5 hour paddle. We quickly set up camp, and got our gear organized. It was still early afternoon after we finished these chores, so Ron and Hal decided to paddle around Tiger Key and explore Picnic Key to the east of us. The rest of us explored the beaches north and south of the campsite, but found that we could only walk about a half mile before the mangroves became impassable.

Everyone was ready to eat by about five o’clock, so we found a shady spot under some trees, and ate and talked until it started to get dark. We pulled some dead branches up on the beach, and had a roaring fire going in no time. Sack time came early, as we were all tired from the days’ paddling.

Sunday morning, as we woke up, we were surprised to find that the low tide had left about 150 yards of sand to cross before we reached open water. There had also been heavy dew the night before and the tents were soaked. So we decided to have breakfast, dry out the tents and gear, and wait for the tide to come part way into the beach. Coffee was made, everyone got his or her breakfast together and we talked, waiting for the tide.

By 9 a.m., the tide was close enough to the beach to begin moving kayaks and gear to the water. The temperature was quite warm, but the wind was blowing at about 15 knots from the east, so we would be paddling directly into it most of the way back to the ranger station.

Ron and Hal decided to take the scenic

March

2005

Above: The beach at Tiger Key Below: Campsite on the beach

route back, around Tiger and Picnic Keys, meeting us a few miles east of Tiger Key in Indian Key Pass. As we rounded the tip of Tiger, the wind and waves hit us, but the conditions were not too difficult – just some hard paddling ahead of us.

There seemed to be even more fishing boats out on Sunday, and the sightseeing boats made their regular trips out and back. We stayed on the east side of the channel as much as possible to shelter us from the wind. About half way to the ranger station, we stopped for a short break on a sand bar on the lee side of the channel. As Indian Key Pass became narrower, we could feel the effect of the current pushing us along, a boost against the strong wind.

At noon, we entered Chokoloskee Bay on the last leg of the return paddle. A large group of girl scouts, about 20 girls in 10 canoes, were heading up the Pass for a Sunday outing.

Soon we were at the launching beach where we had put-in the day before. The tide was in this time, so we could pull the kayaks up close to solid ground. The cars were quickly loaded, and our group headed north to home, a hot shower and a warm meal.

The Port Charlotte Kay ak ers schedule at least two paddles each week . We meet ev ery Wednesday ev ening at Port Charlotte Beach Complex at 5:30 PM. Join us when y ou can.

Dav e Allen can be reached at (941) 235-2588 or v ia e-mail at: dlaa@comcast.net

March

2005

Water LIFE

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March

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March

2005

Fishing Always Makes the Day Go Better

By Don Cessna Water LIFE Englewood

Our fishing season has been spectacular for more months in a row than in years past. More people have caught nice large fish and there has been plenty for all to enjoy on most days. Overall, both the gulf and backwater fishermen have enjoyed a spectacular year.

Before the red tide, pompano were here and many sheepshead fishermen had nice catches. We had a whole bunch of fun catching bluefish, more large bluefish than normal. The gulf was offering lots of grouper and more mangrove snapper than last year.

Even some nice yellowtail snapper. The folks who could get out far enough offshore found plenty of nice amberjack too. I guess after all that fun it had to slow down sooner or later.

We have been fortunate until now there hasn’t been a problem with red tide for a while, but now the news of the last few weeks has been all about red tide. All of us should be concerned about our environment because, as the saying goes, ‘we all live down-

stream’. Nothing on this planet can survive without water, hence the quality of water influences the quality of life. Fishermen and boaters are on the leading edge of those who see any obvious changes. We are the guardians of the environment and we are entrusted to protect it. It does not make any difference where one lives, the fact is we all live, breathe, eat, and drink within the same environment-- and all problems get to each and every one of us sooner or later.

The last few days most of the calls at the store have been from people wanting to know what to do. This is somewhat difficult to answer since the red tide does not remain in one spot. It moves on the current and wind.

Are you hoping for a place to fish or a place to go where the smell won’t be so bad? The answer of the day is normally influenced by the direction of the wind especially if fishing is secondary. To fish areas without dead and dying fish I understand the Sarasota area has cleared since the red tide bloom began up that way and has been moving south.

Generally bays, inlets and the passes where the tide washes through from the gulf get it the worst.

This is one instance where the poor flow of water coming south

Water LIFE

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from Venice in the intracoastal is a good thing for the fish and fishermen. For the time being at least, Lemon Bay has had very little of the effects. The area from Manasota Bridge south to Charlotte Harbor has been fairly good.

Mullet, trout, catfish and all the baitfish seem to be the fish which are affected the worst.

There are still large schools of mullet in Lemon Bay which look to be perfectly normal and happy, or at least as happy as they can be while being herded and attacked by dolphin and snook.

But that is the way of life for them most of the time anyway.

I have not seen many dead fish in the Bay so far. My customers have continued to catch some nice trout and redfish. One young man had a nice snook on for a while before the fish got lucky. I think by far the worst effect will be the lack of baitfish Bbay. I have not seen any baitfish at all lately, but there are a lot of shrimp riding the out going tide at night.

The good news is that it is amazing how fast the fishing recovers after the tide goes away.

Hopefully, in a week or two, we will be back in business catching nice fish everywhere. In March the serious fishing normally begins to pick up as this

29

Plenty of Key West Grunts in this cooler. They came from way offshore.

is spring time and the water warms.

Soon we will be getting the warm-water fish moving into our area bringing some of the best fishing of the season. It should begin with Spanish mackerel and whiting on the beaches and near shore in the gulf. Hungry snook, redfish, and trout will appear in the Bay. I wouldn’t be surprised if the pompano show up again too right along with the mackerel.

During the next week or two, why not get the boat in prime shape and check your equipment.

As a side note, the Marine Patrol has been vicious as of late, going over boats looking for one thing

or another trying to find anything to write up. There have apparently been no warnings and large fines. Some guys have paid for expired flares or no sound making device. Safety gear is paramount, tickets suck, so check everything.

Get your rods and reels in good working order and look at your line to make sure it’s not kinky or rotten so you will be ready for the time when the fishing picks up again – it will be soon and it would be a shame to lose a good fish fight because you weren’t ready. The day always is better when you go fishing and win.

Don @ Ray 's Bait and Tack le 480 ., Dearborn St. Englewood

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Water LIFE

March Fishing Forecast

Charlotte Harbor

R o bert at F i s hi n' F ranks P o rt C harl o tte: 6 2 5 -3 8 8 8 Fishing has been good in general.

There was even some talk about t arpo n in Estero Bay but those may be resident fish. The warm weather brought the water temp up 4 degrees.

We are probably at the last of any major cold fronts so the water temperature will be going up steadily now.

We are getting into the spring pattern

MAGAZINE

March

2005

with all the fish. Now, hopefully the rain at the end of February will have washed the red tide out.

Species to target this month are t ro ut and s no o k. The snook are going to still be up in the canals and New from China These Strike Pro, broken-back lures have a nice rattle in them, will be slowly migrating out to the but we始d change the hooks out for something more sturdy before using them. mouth of the canals and heading to the flats. Not until the beginning of April the fish should be feeding heavily tryup sporadically out on the flats and as the will they be out there in force heading ing to replenish their body weight for water to the passes. This is a great time to the coming season. Trout is always a good warms up in the middle of the day they start working the artificials because one in March too. They will be schooling will be moving out to the 6-to 8-foot range.

March

2005

Fishing Report Continued from facing page

There have been a lot of really big trout this year compared to other years. Trout are feeding primarily on shrimp and taking a little white bait as well. The early morning and late afternoon bite has been good on top waters plugs like the Johnny Rattler and the Top Dog. Redfi sh will start getting bigger as this month progresses. The bigger fish, the old breeders, will start moving in from the Gulf. Out along the Gulf, in the 30-to 40-foot depths, this will be the time to start trolling for big reds. Guys looking for ki ngfi sh early will be trolling Mann's stretch 25s and 30s will be the ones coming up with the big bull reds while trolling.

Start watching for the 69 degree temperature incline when the kings and S pani sh mackerel start showing up. This should be the month for that.

Here’s something strange. I’ve been bringing home the bad shrimp from work and fishing out back.

Usually, the sand bri m and catfi sh show up, but I haven’t seen any. In fact, a number of guides who have stopped in the shop lately have mentioned that they have not been seeing catfish. I wonder what’s up with that. It could be a good thing.

One fish that has been big lately is the mangrove snapper. At El Jobean they are catching them up to a-pound-and-a-quarter. They will be doing the same thing with the spring feed, moving out of the shallower

CALENDAR

B BIIG G-4 4 TROUT have been big all year and are on the move

Water LIFE

M Ma ar rc ch hʼs ʼs Ta Tar rg ge et t S Sp pe ec ciie es s

SNOOK are bulking up and feeding well

canals and heading into the harbor.

The Alligator Reef and the Cape Haze Reef should be good for snapper. They are catching 5 and 6-pound sheepshead and big snappers on the inshore reefs right now. Those fish could be moving south as well, as soon as the red tide clears. Flats fishermen will be seeing them as they move through and it’s only the color of the blue tinted tail that sets them apart from tailing reds.

Tarpon have been reported in the keys and a few fish have been spotted in the Flamingo area. This is the time to start dusting off the big-fish tackle and get the shark rigs cleaned up. Some tarpon will start migrating out of the rivers here this month.

They will hang at the bridges and in the river at the mouths. Guys at El Jobean walking sugar trout under a calcutta pole for snook are usually the first ones to find the tarpon and get wrecked by them!

Lemon Bay

Ji m at Fi shermen’s Edge Engl ewood: 697-7595 Now tournament season starts and most of the snook, trout and redfish in are area will become ‘hunted

OF

n March 2: Seminar Capt Andy Medina on Snook fishing, West Marine Port Charlotte, 5:30, 6252700 n March 5-6: Conquistador Cup, Charlotte Harborʼs largest Regatta.

n March 8: Kayaking Fishing Seminar with Dave Loger, Grande Tours, Placida, 697-8825

n March 12: Flatsmasters Grand Slam Plug Tournament, Punta Gorda

n March 16: Seminar Paul LeBlanc on safety requirements, West Marine Port Charlotte, 5:30, 625-2700

n March 23: Seminar Capt Dan Cambern on kingfishing, West Marine

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SPANISH MACKEREL will be showing up in the passes

men.’ March is a good month. The change in the weather and the warming water come in March. The biggest thing will be the red tide and what effects it has.

Normally, snook start to migrate out of the back, coming out of the rivers in a transitional mode heading toward the harbor. Trout fishing is usually good in the spring. Guides are reporting bigger than average trout this season. We should start seeing mackerel and ki ngfi sh, a real indicator of the spring season. Hopefully we will have a good kingfish run, good like it was in years past. There are always a lot of things in March: the end of the pompano and the s heeps head season. Piers, boat docks, rock outcroppings have been holding those fish. Sand fleas and fiddler crabs are the bait for them.

Offshore, mangrove snapper, and hogfi sh – a lot of hogfish, 6 on one boat one day a couple on another – that’s unusual. Hogfish are usually a more tropical species.

Stump Pass & The Gulf

Trav i s at S tump Mari na Lemon Bay 697-2206

Port Charlotte, 5:30, 625-2700

n March 25: Full Moon Kayak Trip, departs 5 p.m., Grande Tours, Placida, no launch fee! 697-8825 n March 26: Old Mossey Plug Tournament, Punta Gorda

n March 30-April 1: Edison Big Snook Tournament, Ft Myers

Pas s

SHEEPSHEAD are moving around the harbor

At Fishinʼ Franks, a vacuum cleaner makes it easier when Chris gets behind in his work.

Yesterday we had a 30 pound bl ackfi n, lots of s napper and grouper but everything is coming out of deeper water, nothing less than 80 feet. Last week I got a 30 pound ki ng in 100 feet of water (30 to 35- miles out) and we had another one on that day, so they are around. The snook population that usually hangs out here at the marina got out of dodge when the red tide rolled in and they haven’t been back yet. Everything inshore has

n April 28-30: OʼBannon Tournament, Cabbage Key

n May 7: Flatsmasters Summer Redfish Tournament, Punta Gorda

n June 9-12: Caloosa Catch and Release, Captiva

n June 11: Old Mossey Redfish Tournament, Punta Gorda

n April 9-10: Leukemia Cup Regatta, Charlotte Harbor

n June 18: Couples Tournament Burnt Store.

n April 24: Matlacha Fly Fishing Tournament, Viking Marina, fly fishing only, separate kayak division, 239-980-5803

n July 16: Water LIFE Kids Cup, Punta Gorda 766-8180

n April 9: Bobby Holloway Memorial Tournament, Pine Island

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n July 10: Charlotte High Redfish Roundup, Punta Gorda n Aug 19-20: Summer Slam, South

Please send us your event calendar information via e-mail to: Waterlife@comcast.net

Fishing

Good!

RIGHT NOW:

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